This case study examines how the quality of democracy has eroded in the recent years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party Bharatiya Janata Party. This document examines how democratic institutions weaken, populism, and nationalism
India (Case Study): The quality of democracy has significantly deteriorated in the recent years
under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). BJP has seen rise of
Hindu nationalism and populism to consolidate power and democratic norms.
Nationalism: Using Hindu nationalist sentiments, promoting a vision of India as a Hindu nation.
This is concerning for those in religious minorities, particularly Muslims.
Populism: Modi portrays himself as the leader for the people, fighting against the corrupt elite
that failed to deliver their promises of development and progress. This resonates with many
Indians feeling left behind economic growth and disillusioned with traditional political parties.
The government encouraged groups to harass and attack minorities, secularists, and political
opponents. Targeting churches and mosques, assault interreligious couples, and against
individuals involved in cow trade which is sacred in Hinduism. The BJP has policies which
discriminate Muslims. An example of this is the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) that those
without citizen documents from neighboring countries would be given refugee status but the
exception were Muslims because the government argued that Muslims were the reason for the
suffering of religious minorities from Bangladesh and Pakistan. Amit Shah, head of the BJP
stated that all illegal immigrants would be cast into the Bay of Bengal which is known as the
National Register of Citizens (NRC). Religion has a determining factor on who is an Indian
citizen. When citizens protested against the changes, the state resorted to repression.
Modi’s government weakened democratic institutions that might restrict government power or
provide checks on the government’s actions.
- The government has frequently bypassed the Parliament, minimizing conflicts and
limiting the legislature’s ability to hold the executive accountable (checks & balances).
“Jaffrelot argues that the government has successfully weakened all state institutions
which might be in a position to balance the administration’s power (ibid.). The
government has frequently bypassed Parliament, with the Prime Minister addressing it
only infrequently, meaning it is now the site of little debate or able to hold the
government to account” (Noakes & Wilson, 2023 p. 156).
- The Supreme Court is under pressure from the government and has given up much of its
power and independence.
- Journalists with opinions that oppose the government have faced harassment,
intimidation, and violence which leads to the decline in press freedom. The government
also banned channels that report negatively on the government.
- There are concerns about the fairness of elections under the government. There is biased
media coverage, limited access of resources for opposing parties, and lack of impartiality
on part of the Election Commission.
“The former chief justice of the Delhi High Court wrote that the way the government has
undermined institutions has ‘rendered the Indian democratic state practically comatose, and
given the executive the upper hand in most matters’ (As quoted in Jaffrelot, 309). As a result
of this pressure on state institutions, elections have become far less equitable than in the
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